The Rainbow Wave May Touch Down in State Legislatures

Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund, wrote about the Rainbow Wave of historic state legislative candidates running for office this cycle.

With an unprecedented 627 openly LGBTQ candidates running for elected office this election cycle and more than 400 on the ballot this Tuesday, media throughout the country and around the world have reported on the Rainbow Wave and its potential impact on equality in America. Twenty-two LGBTQ people are the party nominees for U.S. Congressional seats — a 340 percent increase since 2010 — and there are four LGBTQ candidates for governor representing the L, G, B and the T. This wave of enthusiasm for LGBTQ candidates can transform the U.S. Congress and governors’ mansions and lead to more inclusive policies and legislation, but to focus attention exclusively on these high-profile races obscures a broader and equally exciting narrative about this year’s Rainbow Wave.

On Election Day, we have an opportunity to shatter an astounding number of lavender ceilings in state legislative races that receive scant attention in a political world distracted by Donald Trump.